Hey guys! This site is my last resort. I have been having a really tough time deciding between UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Northwestern for a biology major. I don’t live in California, so the tuition for the three schools is similar. I was leaning towards UC Berkeley, but from what I heard it’s like, impossible to get good grades in the MCB major because the curve is so brutal, and that terrifies me. I plan on working hard in college, but I also want to be able to have a social life once a week on the weekend. Plus, at both the UC schools, I’m worried that there wouldn’t be as many research opportunities for me. However, Northwestern’s biology program is ranked lower than UCLA and Cal, and I’m pretty scared of the winters there/if I could be happy in that weather.
Any advice that you have I would appreciate. I need to make this decision within 24 hours.
It sounds like academically the schools are close (certainly in terms of reputation), so I would consider social/location/school vibe aspects. UCLA and UC Berkeley are like night & day in terms of geographic personality/student profile. Do you see yourself as more of a SoCal laid-back/preppy/smart type or a NorCal crunchy/artsy/smart type? I know kids who attend both schools and that’s where I see the main differences… there’s a distinctive artsy bend to the Berkeley kids. The UCLA kids I know are a bit more city-chic, comparatively. (and I love both!) Los Angeles/Westwood is very different from San Francisco/Oakland… first off, SoCal is super car-based, so while you can live on the UCLA campus and not drive much (Westwood is walkable & there are buses), to go anywhere else in LA, you’ll be driving. In NorCal, you have BART and excursions are into San Francisco… which has a very different nightlife/arts & culture scent than LA. Which city appeals more to you? Do you have any hobbies that lend themselves better to one location or the other? Fave cuisine? Do you want to jaunt to Disneyland on the regular? XD
Chicago is Chicago, of course, and will be of course incredibly different from either CA school (whether Nor-or-So, CA is pretty chill). I’m from the Northeast, and I think of Chicago as similar to the places I grew up/lived–a bit gruff, fast-paced, but with that lovely Midwestern nice streak. It would be a very metropolitan school experience in a large city with a lot of urban culture & history. It would lack the laid-back/eco-bend you’ll definitely find in California (I seriously adore how chill this state is). Winter is scary (where are you from?) but not insurmountable–it’s all about your outerwear gear & being prepared. Of the three schools, I personally think UCB has the best weather as I actually like seasons, but Los Angeles is pretty ideal (if you don’t like seasons or rain).
I’m obviously generalizing, but that’s kind of what you’ll need to do to approximate what environment you might flourish in socially. Also, I’m not an expert, but I’m pretty sure UCLA would have research opportunities… it’s a world-renowned school that publishes a lot research across fields. Honestly, I doubt you can go wrong with any of these schools academically. Rigorous coursework & curves (UC Berkeley) are scary, but none of the UCB kids I know are psychotic studiers, even with the curves–I’m sure you’ll be able to balance work w/ social there.